I get by with a lot of help from my friends

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I received another fun filled box from Stitch Fix. For those of you who don’t know, Stitch Fix is a company that sends you 5 items of clothing based on your style and needs. You get to decide what you keep and what to return. Here is my latest Fix.

Lydia Floral Print Key-Hole Blouse

This blouse is something I would never would have picked out for myself. It’s unique and I can wear it during different seasons.

Verdict: Keep

Rebekah Contrast Detail Blazer

Love this blazer. It’s so versatile and has cute, polka dot details on the cuffs if you decide to roll them up.

Verdict: Keep

Jodie Geo Print Skirt and Trisha Clover Layering Necklace

This skirt was comfortable and I could wear it too work. However, the quality of the fabric didn’t justify the price. I liked the necklace. I can wear it with everything.

Verdict: Keep the necklace. Return the skirt.

Jace Chevron Print Dress

This dress was super cute and so comfortable. I wish it were a different color or I were a different color. it washes me out.

As I redid the living room I thought about rearranging the furniture. I wanted to open up the area in front of the window to allow more light. I did a little rearranging online using Jordan’s Furniture’s software called Room Planner. I came up with 2 new ideas, and had people vote on them on Facebook. Idea 2 won. I’m not sure what to do about coffee and end tables yet.

I wish I bought 2 accent chairs to go with the sofa rather than a love seat. I also wish I bought a grey sofa instead. Oh well.

With my new sunroom half finished, I was gaining more confidence. I’ve been eyeing brightly colored chairs on pinterest and HGTV magazine. I purchased these chairs at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Billerica last fall hoping to so something cool with them. I’m lucky that that store is so close to my house.

Chairs Before

I was thinking about getting some industrial looking chairs too. However, the only somewhat reasonable priced ones I could find were on overstock.com. In the comment section, one lady wrote, “Do not purchase if you wear over a size 12 in pants.” Between the price and her comment, I realized that these chairs might not be the best “fit” for me. Luckily my Mom and I found 2 chairs at the Habitat Store. They were very sturdy and paintable. I forgot to do a before picture, but you can kind of see one in this photo of my mother and Casey. You can also see the huge, clutter collecting hall tree that I had in the sunroom to greet my guests. That’s gone now too. Thanks to craigslist.

The chair on the left is one of the ones we painted.

I decided to paint the chairs one sunny day. My Dad couldn’t resist a spray paint project, so he joined in the fun. I used about 2 cans per chair. I wish I had done another couple of coats, but they came out well.

A family that paints together stays together.

I had some fade resistant fabric that I picked up at Joanne’s and my mom put it on with a staple gun. Here’s the end result. The other 2 chairs were camera shy, but these two were willing to pose.

After a week in sunny Florida, I returned home on a bitter, February evening. I unlocked my door and to my surprise, I heard running water…????? Splosh, splosh my feet cried as a turned around and to see where the sound was coming from. I switched on the light and whipped open the laundry room door. The sound of rushing water grew louder as I approached the washing machine. I quickly wrestled the spewing water hose down and spun the handle on the water switch. Ugh. I thought as I looked down at the rusty connection.

The culprit

I calmed myself down and went to do what I needed to do… use the bathroom. I switched the bathroom light only to find water dripping through my light fixture and the ceiling. Ugh an ice dam, I wondered.

Oh no! Not my beautiful popcorn ceiling!

Catch Basins

The sky is falling

I checked the rest of my house and found that everything was fine. Then I called my neighbors Bob and Kathy for advice and a wet vac. They came over with both and a sense of humor. Bob gave me a demo on the wet vac and treked out into the snow to assess the situation. Do I have great neighbors or what?

Being a new homeowner, I rely on a lot of support from my friends and family. I am lucky to have a handy dad who is constantly pitching in to complete small jobs like hanging towel racks and doing big jobs like installing new windows on the porch. My mom is great too. She can sew, she can garden and she knows how to clean everything. Without them in my life, I probably wouldn’t of even taken on the challenge of owning my own home.

I am also blessed to have good neighbors who are always there in a pinch to lend a helping hand. They have fixed my heat during the Super Bowl, bailed me out after a flood, and supplied me with perennials for my garden. I brag about them to everyone I know.

My friends are good to me too. Most of them are new homeowners themselves, so we face many of the same challenges. I’m lucky because many of my colleagues are long time homeowners. During our lunch breaks, they provide me with a plethora of information that only years of experience can provide.

Without help from family, friends and neighbors I’d pack it up and move back to my condo! I hope to use this blog to show how far my home has come due to the love and support of everyone around me.